FULTON — It seemed like everything had changed when former West Point High School standout Kadarius Forside returned to the Itawamba Community College practice field prior to the start of the 2016 season.
“The new guys are coming to you and asking questions,” Forside said. “You suddenly realize you are a veteran. You are now one of the team’s leaders. You can’t be fearful. You have to accept that challenge of leadership. It’s exciting and rewarding.”
In the junior college world, a two-year football career can come and go in a hurry. The first season you are the new guy, trying to find your way around campus, to learn how to manage your time, and to live away from home for the first time. A year later, you are the leader having to help the new guys make similar adjustments.
“It’s easily the most difficult part of our job,” ICC coach Sean Cannon said. “You have guys here for two years. When you finally get to know them, they are gone. Players are thrust into that leadership role more quickly. Hopefully, they learn from the guys before them.”
ICC will open the season at 7 p.m. Thursday when fourth-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. comes to Eaton Field. It is the start of a brutal stretch of games. The Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) has five teams ranked in the preseason. ICC will open with four of them. After Mississippi Gulf Coast, it is No. 19 Hinds C.C., No. 10 Northwest Mississippi C.C., and No. 1 East Mississippi C.C.
ICC will look for a second-straight playoff appearance after last season’s 5-5 finish. ICC and Mississippi Gulf Coast will meet for a third-straight game. The two ended the 2015 regular season against one another and played in the playoffs a week later.
“For the guys who have been in the league for a year, we know how big a challenge this is,” Forside said. “There is no preseason game or anything like that. We have to come out ready to play. We really have to be at our best for the first game because we don’t want to be fighting uphill after that.”
Forside figures to be a major part of the running game after leading the team with seven touchdowns last season. He had 88 carries for 356 yards as a freshman.
“The biggest thing is the speed of the game,” Forside said. “You have to learn how to adapt quickly or you will be left behind. Every player is good at every position. Other teams don’t have that one weak position you can go after. Pretty much everybody on the field is fighting for a Division I scholarship. That is what makes playing in this league so great.
“Everybody can play. Everybody has a purpose. You work those individual goals into the framework of the team’s goals as well.”
ICC finished the second half of the season strong and earned a postseason invite after the MACJC banned EMCC from the playoffs.
“I think just making the playoffs really helped this team out,” Forside said. “We learned what is it like to be in that type of situation. We were fortunate to have the opportunity, but I think we really learned from it. Our goal is to get back there again this year. We know there are several good teams in our division, so we just have to keep our head above water. We have to keep fighting.”
ICC offensive coordinator Nick Coleman has watched as the 5-foot-11, 230-pound Forside has blossomed as a power running back and team leader.
“He has really grown up as a leader,” Coleman said. “He has that soft-spoken demeanor and never really raises his voice. However, Kadarius leads by example. He has done a really great job of helping teach the young guys what it takes to play on this level. There is always a big adjustment period, so it helps when your older teammates are there encouraging you and pushing you along.”
Florida native Peyton Bender is the projected starter at quarterback. Bender was a reserve at Washington State last season. He appeared in five games and was 53 of 91 for 498 yards and three touchdowns.
“He pretty much has come in and given our offense a whole new lift,” Forside said. “You have someone with that Division I experience. He has been where we are all trying to get. That experience runs off on you.”
The other quarterbacks are Center Hill freshman Dan Ellington, South Panola sophomore Rip Kirk, and Starkville High freshman Montario Montgomery. Kirk began his playing career at EMCC.
“We have a lot of different options on offense this season,” Coleman said. “We just have to get the play-makers on the field. Each quarterback does something different that can help us win. We have some good team speed in the backfield and our offensive line has some experience.”
Forside looks to blend that experience with leadership. ICC flirted with the national rankings a season ago. This year’s squad hopes to have more staying power. Success against the difficult non-division schedule will help make that happen.
“Everybody is really excited to get started,” Forside said. “We think we can surprise some people this year.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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